Control circuit for automating the operation of a film cutter or like apparatus

ABSTRACT

A control circuit for automating the operation of a film cutter of the type suitable for cutting large, continuous rolls of film having regularly spaced edge perforations fixedly oriented with respect to the exposed frames thereof which continuous rolls are made up of spliced, intermingled customer rolls of 12 or 20 frames each. Cutting of the film into strips of four exposure frames each, plus a strip of four exposure frames and the splice frame, is controlled by the response of photosensitive detectors which monitor passage of the film perforations and the splice frame. The photosensitive detectors are connected to a counting circuit which generates, in its first frame first mode of operation, an output signal for each four film perforations counted. In its Last Frame First mode of operation, the counting circuit is logically controlled so that it counts five perforations prior to the first cut in the customer roll and four perforations thereafter. In response the output signal of the counting circuit, a pivotally mounted pawl located in the cutter is caused to swing upwards to engage the next following film perforation. Engagement of the pawl, in turn, causes the film drive to stop. The cutter blade is actuated in response to engagement of the pawl with the film perforation, thereby severing an initial strip of film containing four images in the First Frame First mode or an initial strip of film containing five images in the Last Frame First mode. The same signal which caused the film drive to stop and the cutter to sever a strip of film, after a time delay greater than that required for complete cutter blade movement is employed to drop the pawl out of engagement and restart film drive. This operation is repeated until a splice is sensed, whereupon the pawl remains engaged, halting further film drive until the previously cut strips are removed from the exit therefor provided in the cutter housing. A mode switch appropriately located on the cutter allows the operator to automatically cut the larger rolls of film regardless of whether the splice frame leads or trails the individual customer rolls.

United States Patent Smith et al.

[54] CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR AUTOMATING THE OPERATION OF A FILM CUTTER ORLIKE APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Gerald C. Smith, Honeoye; Raymond J.Williams, Rochester, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Comp y, Rochester, N.Y.

22 Filed: April 16,1971

21 Appl.No.: 134,789

[52] US. Cl. ..83/210, 83/238, 83/261, 83/268, 83/358, 83/364, 83/365,83/367,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B26d 5/32, 826d 5/34 [58] Field of Search ..83/210, 238,261, 268, 358, 83/364, 365, 367, 371, 391, 419, 446, 449

[56] 8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,174,374 3/1965 Wick etal. ..83/210 3,465,624 9/1969 Becker ..s3/210 x 3,599,521 s/1971 Lee..s3/210 3,600,997 8/1971 Schmidt ..83/2l0 x Primary ExaminerF rank T.Yost Attorney-W. H. J. Kline and Saul A. Seinberg [57] ABSTRACT Acontrol circuit for automating the operation of a film cutter of thetype suitable for cutting large, continuous roll of film havingregularly spaced edge perforations fixedly oriented with respect to theexposed [4 Oct. 24,1972

frames thereof which continuous rollsv are made up of spliced,intermingled customer rolls of 12 or 20 frames each. Cutting of the filminto strips of four exposure frames each, plus a strip of four exposureframes and the splice frame, is controlled by the response ofphotosensitive detectors which monitor passage of the film perforationsand the splice frame. The photosensitive detectors are connected to acounting circuit which generates, in its first frame first mode ofoperation, anoutput signal for each four film perforations counted. Inits Last Frame First mode of operation, the counting circuit islogically controlled so that it counts five perforations prior to thefirst cut in the customer roll and four perforations thereafter. Inresponse the output signal of the counting circuit, a pivotally mountedpawl located in the cutter is caused to swing upwards to engage the nextfollowing film perforation. Engagement of the pawl, in turn, causes thefilm drive to stop. The cutter blade is actuated in response toengagement of the pawl with the film perforation, thereby severing aninitial strip of film containing four images in the First Frame Firstmode or an initial strip of film containing five images in the LastFrame First mode. The same signal which caused the film drive to stopand the cutter to sever a strip of film, after a time delay greater thanthat required for complete cutter blade movement is employed to drop thepawl out of engagement and restart film drive. This operation isrepeated until .a splice is sensed, whereupon the pawl remains engaged,halting further film drive until the previously cut strips are removedfrom the exit therefor provided in the cutter housing. A mode switchappropriately located on the cutter allows the operator to automaticallycut the larger rolls of film regardless of whether the splice frameleads or 18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEBHB M Z 3.699.832

SHEET 2 BF 6 GERALD c. SMITH RAYMOND J. WILLIAMS INVENTORS BY J a zwmATTORNEYS PATENTED -3.699,832 sumanre;

l GERALD c. sum-0 I46 RAYMOND J. WILLIAMS INVENTORS ATTORNEYSPATENTEDHCT 24 m2 3.699 532 SHEET 5 UF 6 PERFORATION PULSE SI GNALSBLANKED PULSE lsi 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 63h 7th gm 91h 54 A *1 R U FL H S\ssohmu l l QM GERALD C. SMITH RAYMOND J. WILLIAMS INVENTORS ATTORNEYSCONTROL CIRCUIT FOR AUTOMATING THE OPERATION OF A FILM CUTTER OR LIKEAPPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is herebymade to commonly assigned, copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.134,791, entitled APPARATUS FOR CORRELATING REJECTED PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTSWITH CORRESPOND- ING Pl-IOTOGRAPI-IIC NEGATIVES, filed in the name ofGerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.134,786, entitled APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE PACKAGING AND PRICINGOF PHOTOGRAPl-IIC PRINTS, filed in the names of Thomas W. Bracken,Thomas C. Laughon and Gerald C. Smith on Apr. 16, 1971; U.S.Pat.application Ser. No. 134,787, entitled DISPENSING DEVICE FOR POCKETEDENVELOPES, filed in the name of James E. Ferris on Apr. 16, 1971; andU.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 134,788, entitled BIMODEL FILM CUTTERADAPTED TO I-IANDLE DIF- FERENT FILM WIDTI-IS, filed in the name ofThomas W. Bracken on Apr. 16, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to film cutter control apparatus and, more particularly, to theautomated control of a film cutter which drives and cuts large,continuous rolls of film having regularly spaced edge'perforationslocated in a predetermined orientation with respect to the exposedframes thereof, the continuous rolls being made up of spliced,intermingled rolls of 12 or 20 frames each.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years, cameras which use 126type film, such as the Kodak Instamatic camera line, have gainedwidespread popularity. Such cameras have especially gained extraordinarypopularity with the neophyte and amateur photographer. This has resultedin increased volume for the photofinishing industry, which wasconsequently obliged to develop new equipment to cope with the increasedprocessing demand.

Such cameras use film which has regularly spaced edge perforations andfeature film drive mechanisms which advance such film in the camera, viathese perforations, in substantially equal increments. Thus, the exposedfilm will have a given number of latent images or frames equally spacedthereon, each frame having one perforation associated therewith. Such afeature was a departure from what had been done heretofore with respectto perforated roll film, as for example in 35mm cameras, which use filmhaving regularly spaced edge perforations which are in randomorientation with respect to the exposed frames.

When the 126 type film is received from customers, the individualcustomer rolls, which may be of 12 or 20 frame length, are joined forprocessing by opaque splices to which are affixed a twin-check or codedlabel identifying a particular customer order. The large, continuousroll formed thereby is developed and printed. However, in order toreturn the finished order to the customer, the large roll of film mustbe cut,

' preferably for ease of handling, into segments which are evenshorterthan the lengths of the original 12 or 20 frame rolls receivedfrom the customer.

Various film cutters have been designed and are known in the prior artfor achieving this result. Some of these film cutters are essentiallymanually operated and require constant operator interaction to achievethe desired results. An example of such a manual film cutter is theByers Film Cutter, Model 126, manufactured by the Byers Photo EquipmentCompany of Portland, Oregon. While such film .cutters achieved thedesired results, they were slow, required constant operator attentionand ultimately prevented the film processor from fully reaping thebenefits of automating other operations in the processing cycle.

In time, automated versions of film cutters became available and greatlyreduced certain of the problems associated with the older manual type.An example of such a film cutter is the Fox Continuous 126 Film Cutter,manufactured by Fox-Stanley Photo Products, Inc., of San Antonio, Texas.A typical control system for such a film cutter is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,464,624 issued to D. L. Becker and assigned to Fox- StanleyPhoto Products, Inc.

In the control system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,624, the numberof frames present in a delivered film segment is determined by controlof a reciprocating film drive pawl through a predetermined number ofstrokes, each stroke corresponding to film advance of one frame. Aphotodetector is employed to sense the roll splices which causes thepawl to make one additional reciprocation. However, the disclosedcontrol system is time dependent and does not actually count the numberof frames advanced past the cutter blade. Thus, the reciprocating filmdrive pawl may not, for some reason, engage a film perforation, but willnevertheless continue to reciprocate through its complete cycle. Forexample, the film may jam upstream of the pawl and the control systemwill still reciprocate the pawl or, should the pawl fail to engage oneor more film perforations, the ultimately severed film segment will notcontain the desired number of frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a control circuit for a film cutter whichhandles film of the type described which control circuit is reliable inoperation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a controlcircuit which can severe a large continuous roll of film into segmentsof predetermined length.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a controlcircuit for a film cutter of the type described wherein control of thesubdivided segment lengths is based on counting of the filmperforations.

Accordingly, there is provided a control circuit in which aphotodetector sensor monitors passage of the film and spliceperforations. A counting circuit responsive to the periodic signalsgenerated by the perforation photodetectors generates a cut signal afterpassage of a predetermined number of frames. The cut signal causes apivotably mounted pawl in the film cutter to move. The pawl then ridesunder the still driven film coming into engagement with the nextfollowing film perforation, which result signals the film drive to stop.A singlesshot monostable now triggers movement of the cutting blade inresponse to pawl engagement and the presence of a cut signal therebysevering a predetermined length of film. The signal to the cuttingblade, after a delay period longer than that required for a completecutter blade cycle, automatically causes the pawl to disengage which, inturn, restarts film drive. This complete cycle is repeated until asplice photodetector, positioned one frame distance upstream from theperforation photodetector, senses a splice. A splice latch logiccircuit, which is responsive to the splice detector output, is set andcauses a signal to be generated which holds the pawl in engagement withthe film perforation, which action prevents further film drive. Removalof the strips from an exit port provided therefor in thecutter housingactuates a switch which resets the controlv circuitry and automaticallyinitiates the next cycle of operation.

'A panel mounted mode switch enables a user to select either First FrameFirst (hereinafter FFF) or Last Frame First (hereinafter LFF) operation.Thus, the film cutter will operate as described regardless of whetherthe splice frame trails or leads the individual customer rolls.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description thereof, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein there is set forth by way of illustrativeexample, an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS adapted to utilize the presentinvention as shown in FIG. In.

FIG. 2 is a logic diagram of the frame counting logic circuit and thesplice plus one circuit used in the control circuitry of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a combined schematic and logic diagram of the pawl release andfilm drive control circuit employed in the control circuitry of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a combined schematic and logic diagram of the film cuttingcircuit used in the control circuitry of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a logic diagram of the splice latch reset circuit employed inthe control circuitry of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrative of the states certain of thelogic elements of FIG. 2 in the FFF mode of operation.

FIG. 7 is a timing diagram illustrative of the states of the elementsidentified in FIG. 6 when used in the LFF mode of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference numerals have been used in the several views forlike elements, FIG. 1a illustrates a block diagram of a control circuitfor a film cutter of the type described fully in the above-identifiedUS. Pat. application Ser. No. 134,788 and representatively illustratedin FIG. 1b. It will be assumed, for the initial portion of thisdiscussion, that the large roll of film to be cut is arranged with thesplice frame trailing the individual customer orders or rolls, the EFFmode of operation.

After a large roll of spliced film 15 has been properly mounted on thefilm cutter, the leading'end of the film is passed between the filmdrive pinch rollers 17 and 19, which are not drivingly engaged at thistime. The film is thereafter slid along the film bed, with its edgesbeing held by guide members positioned beside the film bed 21, towardsthe cutter blade 23. In some instances, the leading end of roll 15 willhave a leader spliced thereto which may ormay not contain edgeperforations. In other instances, there will be no leader. In eitherevent, with power on, the leading edge of the film is alignedapproximately with the cutting plane by manually initiating the releaseof a pivotally mounted pawl. 25 in the cutter, since when pawl releaseis effected, the film can more readily be slid over the bed. Onceapproximate alignment is achieved, pawl 25 is allowed to swing upwardunder the influence of resilient means 27 to positively engage a film orleader perforation 29. If a perforationless leader is employed, the pawlwill ride under the leader. Film drive is now initiated, in a manner tobe hereinafter explained, causing the film to advance. If a leader hasbeen utilized, the film will. be advanced to the first splice frame andthe leader will be severed. If a leader has not been used, the controlcircuit according to the present invention will cause the first customerorder to be cut.

A perforation photodetector 10, shown in' FIG. la, is mounted in thecutter housing in alignment with the film perforations 29. Although anumber of such detectors may be used, one for each of the different filmwidths which can be handled by the film cutter 9 ineach of its twopossible orientations or modes of operation, only one is utilized for agiven roll of film at one time. In FIG. 1b, the lamps 11, 11a, 13, 13aand 13b or radiation sources corresponding to each detector are shownfor the sake of clarity, since the detectors or sensors themselves arehidden in the film cutter housing 55. The perforation detector 10generates a positive pulse for each perforation detected, which pulsesare amplified, in a conventional manner, by the perforation amplifier12. The amplified pulses are fed to frame count logic circuit 18 whichgenerates an output signal X or cut signal each time a predeterminednumber of pulses have been detected and received. In the preferredembodiment, the frame count logic circuit output signal X is generatedin response to the receipt of four perforation pulses in the First FrameFirst mode of operation. It will be understood, however, that the countlogic circuit 18 can be readily modified to generate an output signal inresponse to the receipt of any number of perforation pulses. Since eachperforation pulse corresponds to the passage of one film frame, circuit18 is more aptly identified as the frame count logic circuit 18.

The frame count logic circuit output signal X is fed to a pawl releaselogic circuit 20 and a single-shot monostable logic circuit 32. Receiptof signal X by the pawl release logic circuit 20 causes deengergizationof pawl solenoid coil 94 which results in the pawl being released toswing upwards beneath the driven film. When the pawl 25 engages the nextfollowing perforation, pawl switch 96 is made, causing film drive to beshut off. As this happens, the single-shot monostable logic circuit 32fires, generating an output pulse of fixed duration which, via framecount logic reset circuit 24, resets frame count logic circuit 18 toprepare it for the next series of perforation pulses. The output pulsesignal from the single-shot monostable logic circuit 32 is also fed tothe cutter blade solenoid circuit 38 which causes the cutting blade 23to cycle and sever the four frame film segment advanced past the cutterblade 23. The output pulse signal from the single-shot monostable 32 isadditionally fed to a pulse extender circuit 36 which passes it back tothe pawl release logic circuit and the film drive logic circuit 34,after expiration of a fixed delay period chosen to be greater than thetime required for the cutting blade 23 to cycle. Receipt of the delayedsingle-shot output signal by the pawl release logic circuit 20, whichhas previously sensed the making of pawl switch 96, causes pawl solenoidcoil 94 to be energized, pulling the pawl out of engagement with thefilm perforation'which resets the pawl switch circuit 26. This causesfilm drive to start again and the cutting of four frame film segments isautomatically repeated until a splice 31 is sensed.

When the splice photodetector 14 detects a splice 31, it generates anoutput pulse in response thereto which is amplified in a conventionalmanner by splice amplifier 16. It is important to note that in FFFoperation, perforation detector 10 and splice detector 14 are physicallyspaced apart by a predetermined distance which insures that a fourthoccurring perforation pulse is sensed at the same time the splice frame31 is sensed. Mode switch 78, when set to its FFF terminal switches inthese detectors in a conventional manner.

The amplified splice pulse is fed to the splice plus one circuit 22which then generates an output signal in response to the next followingperforation pulse, hence the name splice plus one. The output signalfrom the splice amplifier 16 is also fed to the frame count logiccircuit 18 and causes it to ignore the perforation pulse signal whichoccurs simultaneously with the splice signal. On the next followingperforation signal, the frame count logic circuit 18 generates itsoutput signal, causing the pawl 25 to engage, film drive to stop and thecutter blade 23 to be actuated as described above. in this instance,however, due to the inhibiting of the frame count logic circuit 18 bythe splice signal, the count of four frames is made over a five frameperiod. Consequently, five and not four frames of film are advanced pastthe cutter blade.

The presence of a splice signal causes the splice plus one circuit 22 tohold the output signal X of the frame count logic circuit 18 at thatsignal level which causes the pawl to remain engaged and film drivestopped. At this point, the control circuit according to the presentinvention, has caused the severance of the first customer order to becut into a number of four frame segments and a single segment of fiveframe length which contains the splice frame bearing the twin check 33or customer identification code. These film segments are delivered toand stacked in an exit port 53 in the cutter housing 55 from whence theoperator can remove them for packaging in a customer order envelope, asdescribed in the above-identified U.S. Pat. application Ser. Nos.134,786 and 134,791.

Mounted in the film exit port 53 is an automatic start detector 40 whichis employed to sense the operators removal of the properly severedcustomer order. When those film strips are removed from the exit port, asignal indicative thereof is generated, amplified in a conventionalmanner by the automatic start amplifier 42, and then fed to the spliceplus one reset circuit 28. The splice plus one reset circuit 28, as itsname implies, resets the splice plus one circuit 22 which changes thestate of output signal X from the frame count logic circuit 18. Inresponse to this change, the pawl 25 is disengaged and film drive isstarted, resulting in the cutting of the next customer order. The signalfrom the automatic start amplifier 42 also resets the first strip latchcircuit 30, which conditions the frame count logic circuit 18 for thefollowing customer order, which result, as shall be hereinafterexplained, is only significant in LFF operation.

Returning briefly to the beginning of this discussion, it will berecalled that the large continuous roll of spliced film 15 could beprovided with or without a leader. As described above, if no leader ispresent, the first customer roll is processed by thefilm cutter underthe influence and cooperation of the FIG. 1a circuits. If a leader isused, whether or not it has edge perforations 29, it is advanced throughthe film cutter 9 until the splice frame 31 by which it has beenattached to the large roll of film 15 is sensed. This results in theleader being severed and, when removed from the exit port 53, thecutting of the first customer order. It should be noted that if theleader does not contain edge perforations, it will be advanced to andthrough the exit port 53 in one strip which includes its splice frame.if, on the other hand, the leader does contain edge perforations 29,itwill be advanced, as described above, under the influence of the framecount logic circuit 18. If the leader perforations 29 total somemultiple of 4, then it will be cut in the same manner as a customerorder, that is, into a number of equal four frame length strips and afinal strip of five frame length containing the splice frame. If theleader does not contain total perforations which are a multiple of four,the strips will not be cut in the manner described. It is also possibleto have a leader of only four frame length or less plus the spliceframe, in which event only one leader strip will be cut. in any event,when the leader splice 31 is sensed and then cut from the roll 15, theprocessing of the roll by the film cutter 9 can begin once the leadersegment or segments are removed from the exit port 53.

As shown in FIG. 1b, the film 7 is advanced from the supply roll 15 tothe cutter blade 23 by the action of pinch rollers 17 and 19. When thesolenoid coil 1 12 of the film drive solenoid 113 is energized, armature115 is pulled downward which also pulls down yoke assembly 117 to whichit is connected. Pinch roller 17, which is rotatably mounted in yokeassembly 117, is thereby pulled down against the film 7 pressing itagainst the drive pinch roller 19. Pinch roller 19, with power on, iscontinuously rotated by a motor (not shown) of a conventional type. Whensolenoid coil 1 12 is deenergized, armature 115 and yoke assembly 117are released and move upward, thereby lifting pinch roller 17 from thefilm and stopping film drive.

Pawl 25 is pivotally mounted below film bed 21 and is normally urgedupwardly by resilient means 27 through the film bed opening 37. Pawl 25is located so that it is in alignment with the film perforations 29.

When solenoid coil 94 of the pawl solenoid 95 is energized, it pushesthe pawl 25, via the pawl drive assembly 39, against the bias ofresilient means 27 thereby forcing the pawl out of engagement with afilm perforation 29. When this occurs, pawl switch 96 is releasedthrough the action of the resiliently biased pawl switch contactassembly 41. When solenoid coil 94 is deenergized, pawl 25 is pivotedupwardly by the action of resilient means 27, but is restrained fromreaching its ultimate rest position by the still driven film under whichpawl 25 rides. Following deenergization of solenoid coil 94, pawl 25engages the next following film perforation 29. This final movement ofpawl 25 causes the pawl switch contact assembly 41 to make. pawl switch96.

. The cutter blade 23' is driven by the rotary cutter solenoid 133 andthe cutter blade drive assembly 135 which is connected therebetween.When cutter solenoid coil 132 is energized, armature 137 is rotatedcausing the cutter blade drive assembly 137 to cycle cutter blade 23.The driven cutter blade 23 will then sever the segment of film 7advanced by the action of pinch rollers 17 and 19 past the cuttingplane.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated the frame count logiccircuit 18 and the splice plus one circuit 22. The frame count logiccircuit 18 for FFF operation works in the following manner. Signals fromthe perforation amplifier 12, each of which represent film advance ofone frame, are received via line 44 which comprises one input 46a toNAND gate 46. Capacitor 48 is connected between line 44 and ground andprovides input noise suppression. Line 44 goes to a logical high(hereinafter HI) whenever a perforation is detected, remaining at alogical low (hereinafter LO) at all other times. Line 50 connects theoutput of splice amplifier 16- to NAND gate 46. The output of spliceamplifier 16 is HI in the absence of a splice, assuming a LO state whena splice is detected. In the FFF mode of operation, which is assumed atthis point, the first perforations signal switches NAND gate 46, causingits output to be set LO. Inverter 52 changes the state of this signaland transmits a HI pulse to the clock input of flip-flop 56 via line 54.Resistors 47 and 49 are connected in the manner shown to and around gate46 and inverter 52 and provide pulse shaping for the transmittedperforation pulses. The achieved pulse shaping insures that thenegative-going transitions from inverter 52 are quick enough to toggleflip-flop 56. The Q output of flip-flop 56 goes HI, in response to thenegativegoing transition of the received clock pulse or firstperforation pulse and remains in that state. The second perforationpulse switches the Q output of flip-flop 56 back to L0, whichnegative-going transition is fed, via line 58, to flip-flop 60, causingits Q output to go HI. The third perforation pulse toggles flip-flop 56once again, setting its Q output HI. Receipt of the fourth perforationpulse switches flip-flop 56 again causing its Q output to go L0. Thisnegative-going transition toggles flip-flop 60 causing its Q output togo LO also. Then, via line 62, this negative-going transition togglesflipflop 64, setting its output HI.

The output of flip-flop 64 is connected to one input 68a of NAND gate 68and to one input 70a of AND gate 70, respectively, by line 66. The otherinput 68?; to NAND gate 68 is the Q output of flip-flop 56 8 withconnection being made through line 80. Since the Q output of flip-flop58 is LO when the 0 output of flipflop 64 goes HI, in response to aperforation count of four, the output of NAND gate 68 remains HI.Inverter 72 reverses this, feeding a LO signal to one input 74a of ANDgate 74 holding its output L0.

The panel mounted mode switch 78 has been set for FFF operation, whichholds input 76b to NAND gate 76 L0. This maintains its output and input701') to AND gate 70 HI. When the other input line 70a to AND gate 70,which is connected to the 0 output of flip-flop 64 via line 66, goes IIIin response to a count of four, AND gate 70 is switched, setting itsoutput HI. The transition of the output of AND gate 70 to HI, switchesNOR gate 80 to which it is connected. In response thereto, the output ofNOR gate 80 goes LO, sending input 84!) to NOR gate 84 HI, as a resultof signal inversion by inverter 82. When the input to NOR gate 84 goesHI, its output line X goes LO.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, line X is connected to NAND gate86. Since the other inputs to NAND gate 86 are normally HI, as is thesignal on line X, the transition of line X to L0 in response to a countof four perforations switches the output of NAND gate 86 from L0 to HI.This causes NAND gate 88 to switch to LO, which turns off transistor 90.When transistor 90 is turned off, current flow through the pawl solenoid94 is halted, which releases the pawl. Once released, the pawl 25 underthe influence of its biasing means 27, is urged upward where it ridesunder the still driven film. Diode 92 is connected around pawl solenoidcoil 94 and serves to provide a protective discharge or quenching paththerefor when transistor 90 is switched off.

When the next following film perforation passes the pawl 25, it swingsfully upward engaging that perforation making the magnetic reed pawlswitch 96. When pawl switch 96 is made, line 102 goes L0 and transistor98 is shut off. This causes line P to go HI and the output of NAND gate104, the inputs of which are all normally HI, to be switched LO. Inresponse thereto, transistor 108 is turned off, removing current flowfrom the film drive solenoid coil 112. Actuation of the film drivesolenoid coil-112 releases pinch roller 17, otherwise in driving contactwith the film 7, which terminates film drive.

As is also shown in FIG. 3, the function switch 118, when set to AUTO,maintains one input to each of NAND gates 86 and 104 HI through NANDgate 116. Line T, which is normally HI, does the same for another inputto each of NAND gates 86 and 104. Jam relay 1 14, in the absence of filmjam, is normally open which maintains still another input to each ofNAND gates 86 and 104 HI. The remaining input to NAND gate 86, line X,is normally HI, as explained above. The remaining input to NAND gate104, line 102, is normally HI, as also explained above. Thus, when lineX goes L0 in response to a count of four film perforations, the pawlsolenoid coil 94 is deenergized allowing the pawl 25 to swing upwardswhere it rides under the still driven film, whereupon engagement of thenext following film perforation by the pawl 25, makes pawl switch 96,shutting off film drive after four frames of film have been advancedpast the cutter blade.

As previously described, when pawl switch 96 is made, transistor 98 isswitched off, setting line P HI. It

should be noted that line P is normally LO since when transistor 98 isswitched on, its collector is at substantially ground potential. Asshown in FIG. 4, line P serves as one input to NAND gate 122, line Xserving as the other input through inverter 124. Thus, when line X goesL in response to a count of four perforations and line P goes HI,meaning that the pawl is engaged and film drive has been halted, NANDgate 122 is switched L0 and inverter 126 HI triggering the single-shotmonostable 128. It will be noted that with both the pawl engaged andfilm drive halted, it is now safe to cut the film. When the single-shotmonostable 128 is fired, its normally LO output 128a goes HI, in a knownmanner, for a period fixed by the values of its internal components.Output line 128b, on the other hand, goes LO during this period. Whenline 128a goes HI, Darlington transistor 130 is switched on, drawingcurrent through the cutter blade solenoid coil 132. This causes thesolenoid coil 132 to actuate the cutter blade 23, pulling it downthrough the film which severs the four frame length of film previouslyadvanced past the cutter blade 23. Diode 134 is connected in parallelabout solenoid 132 to provide a discharge path for the current inducedby the collapsing field resulting from removal of current flow throughthe solenoid coil 132 when transistor 130 is shut off.

The normally LO output 128a of the single shot monostable 128 is alsoconnected to the base of transistor 136. When monostable 128 fires,transistor 136 is turned on, causing the collector thereof to be pulleddown to substantially ground potential or L0. This causes the output Tof the pulse extender circuit 36 to go LO. Resistors 142 and 148 areconnected around and in series, respectively, with back-to-backinverters 144 and 146 to provide pulse shaping. These elements cooperateto insure that when transistor 136 is switched on, the negative-goingtransition on line T is rather steep or quick.

When the output line 128a of monostable 128 goes LO at the end of thesingle shot time period, transistor 136 turns off since its base-emitterjunction is no longer forward biased. The output of inverter 146 wouldordinarily go HI at this point. However, before it can go HI, capacitor138 must be charged through resistor 140. The time constant for thecharging rate is dependent obviously on the resistance and capacitancevalues of resistor 140 and capacitor 138. The values are selected sothat the time required for the output of inverter 146 to switch from L0to HI, after the singleshot monostable 128 turns off, is greater thanthe time required for the cutter blade to complete its cycle ofoperation. In this manner, the transition time of a signal change online T when switched from L0 to HI is extended by a period which issafely greater than that required for completion of a cutting cycle. Itshould be noted that when transistor 136 is switched on by the firing ofmonostable 128, capacitor 138 discharges through resistor 140 to groundin preparation for the next transition.

The firing of monostable 128 is also sensed by the first-strip latchcircuit 30 comprised of inverter 150 and latch connected NAND gates 152and 154. When line 128a goes HI, inverter 150 causes a LO pulse on theinput to latch NAND gate 152 which sets the latch 30, causing its outputline Z to be set LO. Line R carriesthe output signal from the automaticstart detector amplifier 42. When film is advanced towards the exit port53 in the cutter housing 55, the automatic start detector 40 senses thisand causes line R, which is otherwise LO, to go HI. Detector 40 islocated so that from the start or aligned position, advancement of oneframe towards and through the exit port sets line R HI. When monostable128 fires, the first strip latch 30 is set causing line Z to go LO. LineZ then remains LO until the film strips are removed by the operator fromthe exit port 53.

Diode 134 is connected between input 122b to NAND gate 122 and theoutput line 128a of monostable 128. It provides an interlock whichinsures that the cutter blade will not be caused to cycle as a result ofa spurious signal. Should monostable 128 fire accidentally, the cuttersolenoid 132 will be energized, even though line X has not been set LO,which would be the case after four perforations have been counted. Inthe event of an accidental trigger of monostable 128, line X is HI, butline P is L0 as previously explained. Thus, when the spurious firing ofmonostable 128 occurs, if it does, diode 134 becomes forward biasedrendering it conductive. This result pulls the base of transistor 130substantially to ground preventing it from becoming forward biased andswitching on, which would otherwise actuate solenoid 132 and the cutterblade. Diode 134, therefore, acts as a safety interlock which preventstransistor 130 from being switched on until line X goes LO,- meaningfour perforations have been counted, and line P goes HI, meaning thepawl 25 has been engaged and film drive has been stopped.

When the monostable fires, line W or output 128b, goes LO for theduration of the single-shot period. As shown in FIG. 5, this transitionis sensed by NAND gate 156 on one of its inpufles. The other input lineto NAND gate 156, the OFF line, isnormally HI with power on, so that thetransition on line W from HI to L0 when monostable 128 fires, causes theoutput of NAND gate 156 to be set HI. Inverter 158 connected thereto, inturn, feeds a LO signal pulse to the reset terminals of flip-flops 56,and 64 via line 160. This reset pulse readies flip-flops 56, 60 and 64for the next series of perforation pulses to be counted.

As discussed above, line T goes HI at the expiration of the extendingperiod provided by the RC time constant of resistor 140 and capacitor138. When line T goes HI, NAND gate 86, see FIG. 3, is switched sinceline X has already set HI via the action of the frame count logic resetcircuit 24. When NAND gate 86 is switched in this case, its output goesLO causing NAND gate 88 to be switched HI which removes forward biasfrom the base-emitter junction of transistor 90 energizing the pawlsolenoid coil 94. As the pawl 25 drops out of engagement with the filmperforation, pawl switch 96 is released turning on transistor 98 whichcauses line P to return to a LO signal level. At the same time, inputline 102 to NAND gate 104 goes HI switching that gates output L0 andenergizing the film drive solenoid coil 112 by turning on transistor108. This causes the pinch roller 17 to be pulled down by the solenoid 113, allowing pinch roller 17 to contact the film and commence filmdrive.

The above-described cycle of operation is repeated, that is, a fourframe film segment is periodically and automatically cut, until a spliceframe 31 is sensed. It should be noted that the splice frame 31 doeshave an edge perforation 35, see FIG. 1b, although it may not be of thesame configuration as the film edge perforations. The splice perforation35 is generally in pitch, that is equispaced from the film edgeperforations 29, although slight shifts in its location can be readilyaccommodated. It has been found that acceptable performance is possibleeven though the splice perforation 35 is shifted as much as i k framefrom an in-pitch location. When the splice detector 14 which is locatedupstream of the perforation detector senses a splice 31, line 50 is setLO (see FIG. 2). This causes the output of NAND gate 46 to be held HI,even though a perforation pulse has been detected. Thus, when a spliceframe 31 is detected, a simultaneously occurring perforation pulse isblocked or blanked and thereby prevented from clocking flip-flop 56.Since the next perforation pulse will toggle flip-flop 56, film drivewill then cease and a film segment of five frame length, including thesplice frame 31 will be severed. In the presence of a splice frame 31,therefore, the asynchronously connected flip-flops 56, 60 and 64 willcount four out of five perforation pulses, rather than the fourconsecutive perforation pulses counted when a splice frame 31 is notdetected.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it is shown that line 50 is connected to theset terminal 164 of the splice plus one reset circuit 28. When a spliceis detected and line 50 goes LO, the splice latch, comprised of NANDgates 166 and 168, is switched setting output line 170 L0. The resetline of the splice latch is connected to the automatic start amplifier42 via line R which is now HI, film having been advanced past theautomatic start detector 40. When output line 170 goes LO, inverter 172causes a HI pulse signal to be applied, via line 174 to the reset,terminal of the splice plus one flip-flop 176. Since line 174 normallycarries a LO signal in the absence of a splice pulse, flip-flop 176 isnot affected by pulses appearing at the output of inverter 52. However,once enabled by the splice plus one reset circuit 28, flip-flop 176 istoggled by the next following perforation pulse. When this occurs, seeFIG. 2, the 0 output of flip-flop 176 is switched HI setting input 84aof NOR gate 84 HI. This makes the signal on line X L0 and, as previouslydescribed, causes the pawl 25 to swing upward riding under the stilldriven film to then engage the following film perforation, which turnsoff film drive and causes the film to be severed. In this instance, dueto the blanking effect of the splice signal, the cut is effected on the'fifth perforation pulse rather than on the fourth.

It will be recalled that when the four frame length segments were cut,film drive and subsequent severance of additional four frame lengthsegments was automatic. This was due to the fact that the signal on lineX was switched from L0 to HI in response to the resetting of flip-flops56, 60 and 64 and the resetting of line T (see FIG. 3) HI after thepulse extender circuit 36 times out. In this case, input line 84b isagain switched from HI to L0 in response to the resetting of flip-flops56, 60 and 64, which would ordinarily, in the absence of a splice, resetline X HI. However, input line 84a, due to the sensing of the spliceframe and the following film perforation, has been set to and remainsHI. This causes line X to remain LO resulting in, among other things, alack. of film drive. However, when the operator removes all of thesevered film segments from the exit port, the signal on line R goes LOresetting the splice plus one reset circuit 28, which, in turn, resetsflip-flop 176 causing its Q output and input line 86a to NOR GATE 84 tobe set LO. In response thereto, the signal on line X goes HI whichcauses the pawl 25 to disengage and film drive to start.

FIG. 6 illustrates the time-based relationships in FF F operation of thepertinent signals and the element inputs or outputs where they appearfor the logic elements of FIG. 2. The element reference numeral and/orthe corresponding line on which the illustrated signals appear is setforth in the extreme left-hand portion of the drawing.

In the LFF mode of operation, the splice frame appears at the leadingend of the customer order and so, the strip segments are cut in reverseorder. That is, the first segment will be of five frame length and theremaining segments will be of four frame length. The control circuitry,with switch 78 set to its LFF terminal, as shown in phantom in FIG. 2,works as follows. The leading end of the film is aligned as previouslydescribed. With output line Z of the first strip latch circuit 30 set HIby the starting conditions and input line 76b set HI by switch 78, bothinputs to NAND gate 76 are HI, causing its output and input line b to beL0. This condition holds the input line b to NOR gate 80 LO. With inputline 740: L0 because the Q outputs of flip-flops 56 and 64 are LO, input80a to NOR gate 80 is also LO. With both of its inputs set LO, NOR gate80s output is HI, causing input line 84b to NOR gate 84 to be LO. Sincethe splice detector does not detect the forwardly aligned splice, inputline 84a is also LO. This leaves a HI signal on line X and film drivecommences, as previously described. When the fourth perforation signalis counted, line 68a to NAND gate 68 is LO, thereby maintaining inputline 80a to NOR gate LO. Input line 80b is also LO since the output ofAND gate 70 remains LO under the influence of its input line 70b whichis still LO. On the fifth perforation signal, the 0 output of flip-flop56 is set HI. This transition has no effect on flip-flop 60, which isonly toggled by negative-going transitions from the Q output offlip-flops 56. Flip-flop 64 is likewise unaffected by the Q outputtransition of flip-flop 56, since flip-flop 60 has not been toggled, andits Q output remains HI. Now, after the fifth perforation pulse and acorresponding film advancement of five frames, including the spliceframe, input lines 68a and 68b to NAND gate 68 are both HI causing itsoutput to go LO. Inverter 72 sets input line 74 a H] in response andwith input line 74b already HI, AND gate 74 switches setting input line80a of NOR gate 80 HI. This chain of events, causes line 81 to go L0 andinput line 84b to go HI. As previously discussed, when one of the inputlines to NOR gate 84 goes HI, line X is set low, causing pawl 25 to moveupward where it is eventually engaged, stopping film drive and causingthe advanced strip of film to be cut. This happens because monostable128 is triggered resetting the first strip latch circuit 30 which causesthe signal on line Z to be set L0. This result returns the logic gates70, 74, 76 and 80 to their FFF mode of operation interaction so that thefollowing strips of advanced and severed film contain only four frames.

FIG. 7 illustrates the time-based relationships in LFF operation of thepertinent signals and the element inputs and/or outputs where theyappear for the logicelements of FIG. 2. The element reference numeraland/ or the corresponding line on which the illustrated signals appearis set forth in the extreme left-hand portion of the drawing.

As previously noted, setting switch 78 to its LFF terminal, switches ina different splice detector 10a and a different perforation detector14a, as well as cor responding lamps 11a and 13a (see FIG. 2). Thesedetectors are physically spaced so that the splice frame is sensed priorto a corresponding fourth perforation. It will be recalled that in FFFoperation, the splice and perforation detectors, 10 and 14 respectfully,and their corresponding lamps l1 and 13, were arranged so that thesplice frame and the fourth perforation were sensed at substantially thesame time which resulted in the fourth perforation pulse signal beingblanked by NAND gate 46. In LFF operation, detectors 10a and 14a arearranged so that the splice frame is sensed prior to the sensing of thefourth perforation pulse. Consequently, in LFF operation, the spliceframe pulse, signifying the start of the following customer order,resets the splice plus one reset circuit 28 which, in turn, sets line174 HI, enabling flip-flop 176. The next following perforation pulsesignal, which is the fourth perforation pulse signal in LFF operation,causes the Q output of flip-flop 176 to go HI which causes the signal online X to go L0. This transition causes the pawl to engage, film driveto stop and the advanced four frame length of film to be cut, aspreviously described. The customer order is now completely and properlysevered.

Since the Q output of flip-flop 176 remains HI, film drive remainsinhibited, until the severed strips are removed from the exit port 53 ofthe film cutter 9. When these strips are removed, the splice plus onereset circuit 28 is reset causing the Q output of flip-flop 176 to goL0. This starts film drive again as previously described.

Removal of the film strips from the exit port 53 also resets the firststrip latch circuit 30 allowing, in LFF operation, each of the first cutsegments of a customer order to be of five frame length. While the firststrip latch circuit 30 is also reset in FFF operation, the transitionhas no logical importance since input line 76b to NAND gate 76 is alwaysLO due to the position of mode switch 78. i

It is also worthwhile to note that a bad splice frame, that is one wherethe film edges are not abutting, may cause the perforation detector 10to generate a pluse signal where no perforation actually is present. Toavoid this, an additional splice detector 14b, and a corresponding lamp13b, is employed and positioned in alignment with the perforationdetector 10, that is detectors l0 and 14b are positioned side-by-side.Thus, if a spurious perforation signal is sensed due to a splice frameabnormality, detection of the splice frame 31 by detector 14b causes theNAND gate 46 to blank or ignore the false perforation pulse signal.Since the splice plus one reset circuit 28 has already been latched bythe sensing of the splice by detector 14, no further changes ortransitions are caused by the splice pulse signal from detector 14b. Thesplice detector 14b arrangement is used only in FFF operation. It is notneeded in LFF operation since four frames have been counted and pawl 25engaged prior to the possible arrival of the false signal,

Finally, except as otherwise specifically noted, all the variousresistors shown in FIGS. 2-5 serve as current limiting elements and arenot consequently identified by reference numerals.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which trails each customers order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, said apparatuscomprising:

a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage of the film andsplice edge perforations when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation;

the splice frames when the film is driven thereby and for generating anoutput signal in response to the passage of each splice frame, saidsplice sensing means being located ahead of said perforation sensingmeans by a distance which insures that the detection of a splice frame,when present, will occur simultaneously with the detection of the edgeperforation corresponding to the last of the predetermined number offrames;

. first circuit means responsive to said output signals of saidperforation sensing means and said splice sensing means for countingsaid perforation sensing means output signals and for generating anoutput signal when the predetermined number of perforation sensing meansoutput signals have been counted, said first circuit means includingcircuit means for blanking a perforation sensing means output signaloccurring simultaneously with an output signal from said splice sensingmeans to thereby delay the generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means until the following output signal from the perforationsensing means is received; and

. second circuit means responsive to output signals from said firstcircuit means cooperatively connected to the film drive means, saidfirst circuit means and the cutter blade for sequentially disabling thefilm drive means and actuating the cutter blade in response to thegeneration of an splice sensing means for detecting the passage of Iresetting said first circuit means to count the next a series ofperforation sensing means output signals and for enabling the film drivemeans in the absence of said first circuit means output signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second circuit meansincludes delay means for preventing said second circuit means fromenabling the film drive means in the absence of said first circuit meansoutput signals until after the cutter blade has completed its cuttingcycle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second circuit meansfurther includes resettable circuit means responsive only to the firstoutput signal of said perforation sensing means following generation ofan output signal by said splice sensing means for maintaining the drivemeans in a disenabled stateafter the film segment containing thepredetermined number of frames and the splice frame has been severed. I

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the film cutter has anexit port in which the severed film segments are stacked, said apparatusadditionally comprising automatic start sensing means coupled to saidresettable circuit means and positioned near the exit port for detectingremoval of the severed film segments therefrom and for generating anoutput signal indicative thereof, said automatic start sensing meansoutput signal resetting said resettable circuit means when generated toenable the film drive means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 which additionally comprises asecond splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the spliceframes when the film is driven thereby and for generating an outputsignal in response to the passage of each splice frame, said secondsplice sensing means being located alongside said perforation sensingmeans and connected to said first circuit means to cause it to blank anyspurious output signal generated by said perforation sensing means in.response to an improper splice of two successive.

customer orders.

6. Apparatus for. automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving a continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which trails each .customer order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, the film cutteralso having a pivotally mounted pawl therein biased towards the film forengagement with a film perforation and movable to a disengaged position,said apparatus comprising:

a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage of the film andsplice edge perforations when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation;

b. splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the splice frameswhen the film is driven thereby and for generating an output signal inresponse to the passage of each splice frame, said splice sensing meansbeing locatedahead of said perfora-- tion sensing means by a distancewhich insures that the detection of a splice frame, when present, willoccur simultaneously with the detection of the edge perforationcorresponding to the last of the predetermined number of frames;

. first circuit means responsive to said output signals of saidperforation sensing means and said splice sensing means for countingsaid perforation sensing means output signals and for generating anoutput signal when the predetermined number of perforation sensing meansoutput signals have been counted, said first circuit means includingcircuit means for blanking a perforation sensing means output signaloccurring simultaneously with an output signal from said splice sensingmeans to thereby delay the generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means until the following output signal from the perforationsensing means is received;

. second circuit means responsive to output signals generated by saidfirst circuit means cooperatively connected to the pawl for holding itin its disengaged position in the absence of output signals from saidfirst circuit means and for allowing the pawl to be biased towardsengagement with a film perforation in response to generation of anoutput signal by said first circuit means; and

. third circuit means responsive to output signals generated by saidfirst circuit means and to the position of the pawl cooperativelyconnected to the film drive means, said first circuit means and thecutter blade for sequentially disabling the film drive means andactuating the cutter blade in response to the generation of an outputsignal by said first circuit means only if the pawl has engaged a filmedge perforation, for resetting said first circuit means to count thenext series of perforation sensing means output signals and for enablingthe film drive means in the absence of said first circuit means outputsignals only if the pawl has been moved to its disengaged position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second circuit meansincludes delay means for preventing said second circuit means fromenabling the film drive means in the absence of said first circuit meansoutput signals until after the cutter blade has completed its cuttingcycle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said third circuit meansincludes resettable circuit means responsive only to the'first outputsignal of said perforation sensing means following generation of anoutput signal by said splice sensing means for allowing the pawl to bebiased towards engagement with a film perforation and for maintainingthe drive means in a disabled state after the film segment containingthe predetermined number of frames and the splice frame has beensevered.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the film cutter has anexit port in which the severed film segments are stacked, said apparatusadditionally comprising automatic start sensing means coupled to saidresettable circuit means and positioned near the exit port for detectingremoval of the severed film segments therefrom and for generating anoutput signal indicative thereof, said automatic start sensing meansoutput signal resetting said resettable circuit means when generated tomove the pawl to its disengaged position and then enable the film drivemeans.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 which additionally comprises asecond splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the spliceframes when the film is driven thereby and for generating an outputsignal in response to the passage of each splice frame, said secondsplice sensing means being located alongside said perforation sensingmeans and connected to said first circuit means to cause it to blank anyspurious output signal generated by said perforation sensing means inresponse to an improper splice of two successive customer orders.

1 1. Apparatus for automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving a continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which leads each customer order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, said apparatuscomprising:

a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage of the film andsplice edge perforations when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation;

. splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the splice frameswhen the film is driven thereby and for generating an output signal inresponse to the passage of each splice frame, said splice sensing meansbeing located ahead of said perforation sensing means by a distancewhich insures that the detection of a splice frame, when present, willoccur and be completed prior to the detection of the edge perforationcorresponding to the last of the predetermined number of frames;

c. first circuit means responsive to said output signals of saidperforation sensing means and said splice sensing means for countingsaid perforation sensing means output signals and for generating anoutput signal when the predetermined number of perforation sensing meansoutput signals have been counted, said first circuit means includingcircuit means for increasing the count of said first circuit means byone only for the first segment cut from each customer order; and

d. second circuit means responsive to output signals from said firstcircuit means cooperatively connected to the film drive means, saidfirst circuit means and the cutter blade for sequentially disabling thefilm drive means and actuating the cutter blade in response to thegeneration of an output signal by said first circuit means, forresetting said first circuit means to count the next series ofperforation sensing means output signals and for enabling the film drivemeans in the absence of said first circuit means output signals.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said second' circuitmeans includes delay means for preventing said second circuit means fromenabling the film drive means in the absence of said first circuit meansoutput signals until after the cutter bladehas completed its cuttingcycle.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said second circuitmeans further includes resettable circuit means responsive only to thefirst output signal of said perforation sensing means followinggeneration of an output signal by said splice sensing means formaintaining the drive means in a disenabled state after the film segmentcontaining the predetermined number of frames and the splice frame hasbeen severed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the film cutter has anexit port in which the severed film segments are stacked, said apparatusadditionally comprising automatic start sensing means coupled to saidresettable circuit means and positioned near the exit port for detectingremoval of the severed film segments therefrom and for generating anoutput signal indicative thereof, said automatic start sensing meansoutput signal resetting said resettable circuit means when generated toenable the film drive means.

15. Apparatus for automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving a continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which leads each customer order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, the film cutteralso having a pivotallymounted pawl therein biased towards the film forengagement with a film perforation and movable to a disengaged position,said apparatus comprising:

a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage of the film andsplice edge perforations when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation;

. splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the splice frameswhen the film is driven thereby and for generating an output signal inresponse to the passage of each splice frame, said splice sensing meansbeing located ahead of said perforation sensing means by a distancewhich insures that the detection of a splice frame, when present, willoccur and be completed prior to the detection of the edge perforationcorresponding to the last of the predetermined number of frames;

0. first circuit means responsive to said output signals of saidperforation sensing means and said splice sensing means for countingsaid perforation sensing means output signals and for generating anoutput signal when the predetermined number of perforation sensing meansoutput signals have been counted, said first circuit means includingcircuit means for increasing the count of said first circuit means byone only for the first segment cut from each customer order;

said second circuit means includes delay means for (1. second circuitmeans responsive to output signals generated by said first circuit meanscooperatively connected to the pawl for holding it in its disengagedposition in the absence of output signals from said first circuit meansand for allowing the pawl to be biased towards engagement with a filmperforation in response to generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means; and third circuit means responsive to output signalsgenerated by said first circuit means and to the position of the pawlcooperatively connected to the film drive means, said first circuitmeans and the cutter blade for sequentially disabling the film drivemeans and actuating the cutter blade in response to the generation of anoutput signal by said first circuit means only if the pawl has engaged afilm edge perforation, for resetting said first circuit means to countthe next series of perforation sensing means output signals and forenabling the filmdrive means in the absence of 20 said first circuitmeansoutput signals only if the pawl has been moved to its disengagedposition. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein preventingsaid second circuit means from enabling the film drive means in theabsence of said first circuit means output-signals until after thecutter blade has completed its cutting cycle. I

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second circuitmeans further includes resettable circuit means responsive only to thefirst output signal of said perforation sensing means followinggeneration of an output signal by said splice sensing means formaintaining the drive means in a disenabled state after the film segmentcontaining the predetermined number of frames and the splice frame hasbeen severed.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the film cutter has anexit port in which the severed film segments are stacked, said apparatusadditionally comprising automatic start sensing means coupled to saidresettable circuit means and positioned near the exit port for detectingremoval of the severed film segments therefrom and for generating anoutput signal indicative thereof, said automatic start sensing meansoutput signal resetting said resettable circuit means when generated toenable the film drive means.

1. Apparatus for automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which trails each customers order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, said apparatuscomprising: a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage ofthe film and splice edge perforations when the film is driven therebyand for generating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation; b. splice sensing means for detecting the passage of thesplice frames when the film is driven thereby and for generating anoutput signal in response to the passage of each splice frame, saidsplice sensing means being located ahead of said perforation sensingmeans by a distance which insures that the detection of a splice frame,when present, will occur simultaneously with the detection of the edgeperforation corresponding to the last of the predetermined number offrames; c. first circuit means responsive to said output signals of saidperforation sensing means and said splice sensing means for countingsaid perforation sensing means output signals and for generating anoutput signal when the predetermined number of perforation sensing meansoutput signals have been counted, said first circuit means includingcircuit means for blanking a perforation sensing means output signaloccurring simultaneously with an output signal from said splice sensingmeans to thereby delay the generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means until the following output signal from the perforationsensing means is received; and d. second circuit means responsive tooutput signals from said first circuit means cooperatively connected tothe film drive means, said first circuit means and the cutter blade forsequentially disabling the film drive means and actuating the cutterblade in response to the generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means, for resetting said first circuit means to count the nextseries of perforation sensing means output signals and for enabling thefilm drive means in the absence of said first circuit means outputsignals.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said secondcircuit means includes delay means for preventing said second circuitmeans from enabling the film drive means in the absence of said firstcircuit means output signals until after the cutter blade has completedits cutting cycle.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saidsecond circuit means further includes resettable circuit meansresponsive only to the first output signal of said perforation sensingmeans following generation of an output signal by said splice sensingmeans for maintaining the drive means in a disenabled state after thefilm segment containing the predetermined number of frames and thesplice frame has been severed.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3Wherein the film cutter has an exit port in which the severed filmsegments are stacked, said apparatus additionally comprising automaticstart sensing means coupled to said resettable circuit means andpositioned near the exit port for detecting removal of the severed filmsegments therefrom and for generating an output signal indicativethereof, said automatic start sensing means output signal resetting saidresettable circuit means when generated to enable the film drive means.5. The apparatus according to claim 4 which additionally comprises asecond splice sensing means for detecting the passage of the spliceframes when the film is driven thereby and for generating an outputsignal in response to the passage of each splice frame, said secondsplice sensing means being located alongside said perforation sensingmeans and connected to said first circuit means to cause it to blank anyspurious output signal generated by said perforation sensing means inresponse to an improper splice of two successive customer orders. 6.Apparatus for automating the operation of a film cutter of the typehaving a continuously energized film drive means for driving film from alarge, continuous roll made up of smaller customer orders splicedtogether, the film having regularly spaced edge perforations each ofwhich corresponds to one of the exposed frames thereon and the spliceframe which trails each customer order having an edge perforationsubstantially in pitch with the film edge perforations, to a cutterblade for the severance of each customer order into a number of segmentseach of which contains an equal predetermined number of frames, onesegment of which additionally contains the splice frame, the film cutteralso having a pivotally mounted pawl therein biased towards the film forengagement with a film perforation and movable to a disengaged position,said apparatus comprising: a. perforation sensing means for detectingthe passage of the film and splice edge perforations when the film isdriven thereby and for generating an output signal in response to thepassage of each perforation; b. splice sensing means for detecting thepassage of the splice frames when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of each spliceframe, said splice sensing means being located ahead of said perforationsensing means by a distance which insures that the detection of a spliceframe, when present, will occur simultaneously with the detection of theedge perforation corresponding to the last of the predetermined numberof frames; c. first circuit means responsive to said output signals ofsaid perforation sensing means and said splice sensing means forcounting said perforation sensing means output signals and forgenerating an output signal when the predetermined number of perforationsensing means output signals have been counted, said first circuit meansincluding circuit means for blanking a perforation sensing means outputsignal occurring simultaneously with an output signal from said splicesensing means to thereby delay the generation of an output signal bysaid first circuit means until the following output signal from theperforation sensing means is received; d. second circuit meansresponsive to output signals generated by said first circuit meanscooperatively connected to the pawl for holding it in its disengagedposition in the absence of output signals from said first circuit meansand for allowing the pawl to be biased towards engagement with a filmperforation in response to generation of an output signal by said firstcircuit means; and e. third circuit means responsive to output signalsgenerated by said first circuit means and to the position of the pawlcooperatively connected to the film drive means, said first circuitmeans and the cutter blade for sequentially disabling the film drivemeans and actuating the cutter blade in response to the generation of anoutput signal by said first circuit means onlY if the pawl has engaged afilm edge perforation, for resetting said first circuit means to countthe next series of perforation sensing means output signals and forenabling the film drive means in the absence of said first circuit meansoutput signals only if the pawl has been moved to its disengagedposition.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said secondcircuit means includes delay means for preventing said second circuitmeans from enabling the film drive means in the absence of said firstcircuit means output signals until after the cutter blade has completedits cutting cycle.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein saidthird circuit means includes resettable circuit means responsive only tothe first output signal of said perforation sensing means followinggeneration of an output signal by said splice sensing means for allowingthe pawl to be biased towards engagement with a film perforation and formaintaining the drive means in a disabled state after the film segmentcontaining the predetermined number of frames and the splice frame hasbeen severed.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the filmcutter has an exit port in which the severed film segments are stacked,said apparatus additionally comprising automatic start sensing meanscoupled to said resettable circuit means and positioned near the exitport for detecting removal of the severed film segments therefrom andfor generating an output signal indicative thereof, said automatic startsensing means output signal resetting said resettable circuit means whengenerated to move the pawl to its disengaged position and then enablethe film drive means.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 whichadditionally comprises a second splice sensing means for detecting thepassage of the splice frames when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of each spliceframe, said second splice sensing means being located alongside saidperforation sensing means and connected to said first circuit means tocause it to blank any spurious output signal generated by saidperforation sensing means in response to an improper splice of twosuccessive customer orders.
 11. Apparatus for automating the operationof a film cutter of the type having a continuously energized film drivemeans for driving film from a large, continuous roll made up of smallercustomer orders spliced together, the film having regularly spaced edgeperforations each of which corresponds to one of the exposed framesthereon and the splice frame which leads each customer order having anedge perforation substantially in pitch with the film edge perforations,to a cutter blade for the severance of each customer order into a numberof segments each of which contains an equal predetermined number offrames, one segment of which additionally contains the splice frame,said apparatus comprising: a. perforation sensing means for detectingthe passage of the film and splice edge perforations when the film isdriven thereby and for generating an output signal in response to thepassage of each perforation; b. splice sensing means for detecting thepassage of the splice frames when the film is driven thereby and forgenerating an output signal in response to the passage of each spliceframe, said splice sensing means being located ahead of said perforationsensing means by a distance which insures that the detection of a spliceframe, when present, will occur and be completed prior to the detectionof the edge perforation corresponding to the last of the predeterminednumber of frames; c. first circuit means responsive to said outputsignals of said perforation sensing means and said splice sensing meansfor counting said perforation sensing means output signals and forgenerating an output signal when the predetermined number of perforationsensing means output signals have been counted, said first circuit meansincluding circuit means for increasing the count of Said first circuitmeans by one only for the first segment cut from each customer order;and d. second circuit means responsive to output signals from said firstcircuit means cooperatively connected to the film drive means, saidfirst circuit means and the cutter blade for sequentially disabling thefilm drive means and actuating the cutter blade in response to thegeneration of an output signal by said first circuit means, forresetting said first circuit means to count the next series ofperforation sensing means output signals and for enabling the film drivemeans in the absence of said first circuit means output signals.
 12. Theapparatus according to claim 11 wherein said second circuit meansincludes delay means for preventing said second circuit means fromenabling the film drive means in the absence of said first circuit meansoutput signals until after the cutter blade has completed its cuttingcycle.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said secondcircuit means further includes resettable circuit means responsive onlyto the first output signal of said perforation sensing means followinggeneration of an output signal by said splice sensing means formaintaining the drive means in a disenabled state after the film segmentcontaining the predetermined number of frames and the splice frame hasbeen severed.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the filmcutter has an exit port in which the severed film segments are stacked,said apparatus additionally comprising automatic start sensing meanscoupled to said resettable circuit means and positioned near the exitport for detecting removal of the severed film segments therefrom andfor generating an output signal indicative thereof, said automatic startsensing means output signal resetting said resettable circuit means whengenerated to enable the film drive means.
 15. Apparatus for automatingthe operation of a film cutter of the type having a continuouslyenergized film drive means for driving film from a large, continuousroll made up of smaller customer orders spliced together, the filmhaving regularly spaced edge perforations each of which corresponds toone of the exposed frames thereon and the splice frame which leads eachcustomer order having an edge perforation substantially in pitch withthe film edge perforations, to a cutter blade for the severance of eachcustomer order into a number of segments each of which contains an equalpredetermined number of frames, one segment of which additionallycontains the splice frame, the film cutter also having a pivotallymounted pawl therein biased towards the film for engagement with a filmperforation and movable to a disengaged position, said apparatuscomprising: a. perforation sensing means for detecting the passage ofthe film and splice edge perforations when the film is driven therebyand for generating an output signal in response to the passage of eachperforation; b. splice sensing means for detecting the passage of thesplice frames when the film is driven thereby and for generating anoutput signal in response to the passage of each splice frame, saidsplice sensing means being located ahead of said perforation sensingmeans by a distance which insures that the detection of a splice frame,when present, will occur and be completed prior to the detection of theedge perforation corresponding to the last of the predetermined numberof frames; c. first circuit means responsive to said output signals ofsaid perforation sensing means and said splice sensing means forcounting said perforation sensing means output signals and forgenerating an output signal when the predetermined number of perforationsensing means output signals have been counted, said first circuit meansincluding circuit means for increasing the count of said first circuitmeans by one only for the first segment cut from each customer order; d.second circuit means responsive to output signals generated by saidfirst circuit means cooperaTively connected to the pawl for holding itin its disengaged position in the absence of output signals from saidfirst circuit means and for allowing the pawl to be biased towardsengagement with a film perforation in response to generation of anoutput signal by said first circuit means; and e. third circuit meansresponsive to output signals generated by said first circuit means andto the position of the pawl cooperatively connected to the film drivemeans, said first circuit means and the cutter blade for sequentiallydisabling the film drive means and actuating the cutter blade inresponse to the generation of an output signal by said first circuitmeans only if the pawl has engaged a film edge perforation, forresetting said first circuit means to count the next series ofperforation sensing means output signals and for enabling the film drivemeans in the absence of said first circuit means output signals only ifthe pawl has been moved to its disengaged position.
 16. The apparatusaccording to claim 15 wherein said second circuit means includes delaymeans for preventing said second circuit means from enabling the filmdrive means in the absence of said first circuit means output signalsuntil after the cutter blade has completed its cutting cycle.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second circuit meansfurther includes resettable circuit means responsive only to the firstoutput signal of said perforation sensing means following generation ofan output signal by said splice sensing means for maintaining the drivemeans in a disenabled state after the film segment containing thepredetermined number of frames and the splice frame has been severed.18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the film cutter has anexit port in which the severed film segments are stacked, said apparatusadditionally comprising automatic start sensing means coupled to saidresettable circuit means and positioned near the exit port for detectingremoval of the severed film segments therefrom and for generating anoutput signal indicative thereof, said automatic start sensing meansoutput signal resetting said resettable circuit means when generated toenable the film drive means.